Review by Tony Cook/photos by the author
A new ready-to-run flatcar is available in HO scale from Kadee. The debut release comes decorated in black and lettered in white for Nickel Plate Road. The design follows the proven path Kadee Quality Products has employed since the arrival of its HO-scale 40-foot boxcar model in the 1990s. This new flatcar measures a bit more than 53 ft. (matching well with its 50-ton prototype). The body is plastic with the center beams on the underframe made of die-cast metal to provide some weight for the HO replica (the sample weighs 2.3 oz.).
The flatcar includes a separate molded deck, and some underbody features are separate pieces and appear in black on this example. The couplers are Kadee’s metal scale-head knuckles and come fitted in a easy-to-access plastic pocket. The friction trucks are mounted to the flatcar by screws. End details include trainline hose and coupler cut lever. The standup brake wheel is retractable. Simply push the post upward to set the brake wheel in position.
There are fine stirrup steps and separate grab irons on the exterior corners of this flatcar. Kadee includes stakes that fit easily in the side pockets of the flatcar. The stakes could be trimmed to a desired height easily. There are two deck railing options: tall panels and short panels . These pieces are trimmed from provided sprues, come in matching color to the bed, and easily fit into the stake pockets.
This made-in-the-U.S.A. flatcar model is a solid rendering of an extremely common North American prototype and sure to see many road names as a regular and ongoing release from Kadee Quality Products.
HO SCALE
50-ton AAR Flatcar
New York, Chicago & St. Louis 3038 9505, $54.95
Kadee Quality Products
673 Avenue C
White City, OR 97503